Older Age Is a Risk Factor for Recurrent Basal Cell Carcinoma

Older age was found to be a risk factor for recurrent basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and tumor diameter, histopathologic subtype, and tumor site are the defining features of metastatic BCC, according to a recent study published in Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia.

Researchers aimed to evaluate the adequacy of surgical margins and the re-excision rates in patients with primary BCC who underwent standard surgical treatment and to define the risk factors in patients with recurrent BCC. A proposed algorithm based on previous literature was used to determine the distribution of optimal surgical margins and re-excision rates.

The risk factor for recurrence in patients with recurrent BCC was found to be older age. The defining features of metastatic BCC were found to be tumor diameter, histopathologic subtype, and tumor site. For tumors in the H or M zone, higher rates of adequate excision and re-excision were noted.

“Our results showed that if BCC was detected at an early age and at an early stage, recurrence was lower. The H and M zones were the regions with the highest rates of optimal surgical outcomes,” concluded the study authors.

Reference
Gürsel Ürün Y, Can N, Bağış M, Sarıkaya Solak S, Ürün M. Adequacy of surgical margins, re-excision, and evaluation of factors associated with recurrence: a retrospective study of 769 basal cell carcinomas. An Bras Dermatol. Published online March 16, 2023. doi:10.1016/j.abd.2022.07.005